Do I Really Need a Sofa?
Want to go the sofa-less way? These living rooms spotlight some sleek and spiffy seating alternatives
A sofa is often the first thing that comes to mind when furnishing a living room, a default numero uno in the furniture priority leaderboard. And yet, when it comes to functionality, the sofa falters on many fronts. It can take up more room than you bargained for, fall short on capacity and limit options for alternative layouts – giving you low returns on investment. The good news is that a sofa isn’t the only way to go when it comes to living room seating. If you’ve been considering going the sofa-less way, there are several alternatives you can consider. Here are some that are sure to give your living room a niftier, smarter and more sophisticated avatar.
Display a trad daybed (or two)
A traditional daybed, like this one here, is a great way to give your living room a classic flourish. Thin-framed furniture can be a practical space-optimising alternative to a sofa, and infuse your room with a dash of old-world charm.
This arrangement of lounge chairs, an upholstered ottoman and an antique, altar-style daybed by The Raj Company, is reminiscent of a centuries-old haveli (traditional courtyard home). The arrangement provides seating for six; more than a conventional sofa set – at half the floor space and double the aesthetic value.
Love Indian traditional decor? Bring in heritage accents
A traditional daybed, like this one here, is a great way to give your living room a classic flourish. Thin-framed furniture can be a practical space-optimising alternative to a sofa, and infuse your room with a dash of old-world charm.
This arrangement of lounge chairs, an upholstered ottoman and an antique, altar-style daybed by The Raj Company, is reminiscent of a centuries-old haveli (traditional courtyard home). The arrangement provides seating for six; more than a conventional sofa set – at half the floor space and double the aesthetic value.
Love Indian traditional decor? Bring in heritage accents
In this bohemian living room, a chaise longue, a daybed and two armchairs come together to form eclectic seating that gives the room an offbeat spin. The potpourri of seating elements tie in with each other through colour, but hold their own, making for a far more arresting visual display than a standard sofa set.
Lay out a floor arrangement
What better, quicker and cheaper way to create a swish seating arrangement than with floor seats? Buy deep, comfy floor cushions and lay them out along the edges of your room to create a casual, unfussy den. By placing your seating below eye level, you can also create the illusion of a larger space.
This Moroccan-themed living room carries a relaxed and unpretentious air, while hosting a pleasing seating arrangement. The layout is easy to recreate – all it takes is a handful of floor cushions and some accent pillows.
What better, quicker and cheaper way to create a swish seating arrangement than with floor seats? Buy deep, comfy floor cushions and lay them out along the edges of your room to create a casual, unfussy den. By placing your seating below eye level, you can also create the illusion of a larger space.
This Moroccan-themed living room carries a relaxed and unpretentious air, while hosting a pleasing seating arrangement. The layout is easy to recreate – all it takes is a handful of floor cushions and some accent pillows.
For a more beatnik vibe, invest in various floor seat formats. Combine ottomans, stools, low recliners and cushions, as seen here, to add visual variety.
Another budget-friendly arrangement (if you’re up for it) can be achieved with floor mats. Flank a coffee table with a pair of ornamental floor mats on either side to create a meditative Zen hideaway in your living room. Given that you’ll be seated directly on the floor, this format may not be for everybody. So, it’s worth thinking long and hard about whether it’s right for you.
Go light with beanbags
Beanbags are light and portable, and make for snug seating in just about any room – the living room today, the bedroom tomorrow, perhaps the study a year from now – wherever, whenever. Investing in beanbags gives you the flexibility of refreshing your seating when you need a change, without locking your money and space in big-ticket furniture.
These inward-facing beanbags are a lesson in cool and comfy bargain seating. Their laid-back vibe gets a dressy spin with chic overlaying accessories, including a stylish stole and accent pillows.
Beanbags are light and portable, and make for snug seating in just about any room – the living room today, the bedroom tomorrow, perhaps the study a year from now – wherever, whenever. Investing in beanbags gives you the flexibility of refreshing your seating when you need a change, without locking your money and space in big-ticket furniture.
These inward-facing beanbags are a lesson in cool and comfy bargain seating. Their laid-back vibe gets a dressy spin with chic overlaying accessories, including a stylish stole and accent pillows.
Highlight a bench
A single bench can breathe contemporary character into your living room, introducing an easy, breezy air. And without the trappings of a typical sofa, you can push it right up against the wall, maximising negative space.
A backless bench in hushed grey exudes a timeless, minimalistic vibe in this Mumbai home, channeling attention towards the art on the wall and the green outdoors.
A single bench can breathe contemporary character into your living room, introducing an easy, breezy air. And without the trappings of a typical sofa, you can push it right up against the wall, maximising negative space.
A backless bench in hushed grey exudes a timeless, minimalistic vibe in this Mumbai home, channeling attention towards the art on the wall and the green outdoors.
Alternatively, if you have a plain wooden bench that begs to be decorated, go big with accent pillows, throws and runners.
This wooden bench in a Mumbai apartment pops with colours, motifs and patterns, thanks to a graphic bench runner and a pair of eclectic printed pillows.
This wooden bench in a Mumbai apartment pops with colours, motifs and patterns, thanks to a graphic bench runner and a pair of eclectic printed pillows.
Arrange some armchairs
Individual armchairs, arranged in an inward-facing layout, can spread the load and leave a comfortable distance between guests (as opposed to a tight fit in a sofa that forces you to converse at close proximity).
This cream and chocolate living room has an appealing intimate yet spacious atmosphere, suggested by the four armchairs gathered cosily about a round table. The sumptuous design of the chairs is a picture of individuality and comfort, far removed from the look a standard sofa set could have offered.
Individual armchairs, arranged in an inward-facing layout, can spread the load and leave a comfortable distance between guests (as opposed to a tight fit in a sofa that forces you to converse at close proximity).
This cream and chocolate living room has an appealing intimate yet spacious atmosphere, suggested by the four armchairs gathered cosily about a round table. The sumptuous design of the chairs is a picture of individuality and comfort, far removed from the look a standard sofa set could have offered.
Embrace modular seats
Modular seats can be taken apart to serve as solo chairs, joined together to create an extended sofa, and rearranged in various shapes and layouts. They’re a great option if you’re renting, or if you like to switch up your seating every now and then.
This Delhi living room by Kumar Moorthy & Associates is a clever play on modular seating. A set of three benches combine to form an extended U-shaped layout, but can easily be pulled apart to operate independently.
Here’s why modular seating is a boon to urban homes
Modular seats can be taken apart to serve as solo chairs, joined together to create an extended sofa, and rearranged in various shapes and layouts. They’re a great option if you’re renting, or if you like to switch up your seating every now and then.
This Delhi living room by Kumar Moorthy & Associates is a clever play on modular seating. A set of three benches combine to form an extended U-shaped layout, but can easily be pulled apart to operate independently.
Here’s why modular seating is a boon to urban homes
Double up futons
Futons are master double-hatters, masquerading as sofas during the day and snapping back to their bed-like state at night. They give you the option of conjuring an on-demand bed, while offering the familiar look of a sofa (if you still need something in its likeness).
This light-filled living room gets a multifunctional touch, thanks to a futon that unfolds to prove it’s more than just a plush seat.
Read more:
11 Types of Chairs You Should Know About
How to Buy a Chair
Tell us:
Which of these seating options would have you throwing out the sofa? Tell us in Comments below.
Futons are master double-hatters, masquerading as sofas during the day and snapping back to their bed-like state at night. They give you the option of conjuring an on-demand bed, while offering the familiar look of a sofa (if you still need something in its likeness).
This light-filled living room gets a multifunctional touch, thanks to a futon that unfolds to prove it’s more than just a plush seat.
Read more:
11 Types of Chairs You Should Know About
How to Buy a Chair
Tell us:
Which of these seating options would have you throwing out the sofa? Tell us in Comments below.
A chaise longue can serve as a stellar statement piece in your living room, taking up less room than a sofa (thanks to its sleek, pared-down design). Pair it with an armchair or slipper chair to create a cosy little retreat for guests. When you have extra company, pull in some extra stools or pouffes.
See how this chic chaise longue, complemented by a floral-printed armchair, grabs eyeballs while keeping functionality in mind. The layout by MuseLAB takes up little floor space, yet looks like a warm, inviting spot for coffee and conversations.